Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 181

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

पुच्छाकारे सुवस्त्रे च लेखन्या क्षुरकोत्थया । गन्धाष्टकैर्लिखेद्वूपं कपिराजस्य सुन्दरम् ॥ १८१ ॥

Transliteration

pucchākāre suvastre ca lekhanyā kṣurakotthayā | gandhāṣṭakairlikhedvūpaṃ kapirājasya sundaram || 181 ||

Translation

വാൽ ആകൃതിയിലുള്ള നല്ല വസ്ത്രത്തിൽ, ക്ഷുര സസ്യത്തിൽ നിന്നുണ്ടാക്കിയ എഴുത്തുപേനകൊണ്ട്, എട്ട് സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങളാൽ കപിരാജന്റെ മനോഹര രൂപം വരയ്ക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पुच्छ-आकारे: in a tail-shaped (form)
• पुच्छ-आकारे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (Sg); तत्पुरुषः: पुच्छस्य आकारः = tail-shape

• सु-वस्त्रे: on a good cloth
• सु-वस्त्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (Sg); कर्मधारयः: सु-वस्त्रम् = good cloth

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लेखन्या: with a pen/stylus
• लेखन्या: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (Sg)

• क्षुरक-उत्थया: made from (razor-)metal
• क्षुरक-उत्थया: करण-विशेषण (qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुरक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (Sg); agrees with लेखन्या; तत्पुरुषः: क्षुरकात् उत्था = produced from a razor (i.e., made from razor-metal)

• गन्ध-अष्टकैः: with the eight perfumes
• गन्ध-अष्टकैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), तृतीया (Ins), बहुवचन (Pl); द्विगु-समासः: गन्धानाम् अष्टकानि = eight perfumes (set of eight)

• लिखेत्: should draw/write
• लिखेत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Sg)

• रूपम्: form/figure
• रूपम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (Sg)

• कपि-राजस्य: of the monkey-king
• कपि-राजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन (Sg); तत्पुरुषः: कपीनां राजा = king of monkeys

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (Sg); agrees with रूपम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/technical procedure to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kapiraja (Hanuman)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It prescribes a precise devotional act—creating Hanuman’s sacred form with sanctified materials—showing that bhakti can be expressed through disciplined, consecrated ritual workmanship.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is practiced as upāsanā: the devotee prepares an auspicious base (cloth), uses pure instruments, and invokes the deity through a fragrant, reverent depiction of Kapirāja.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical-ritual knowhow—materials selection, preparation, and prescribed procedure—aligned with śrauta/smārta practicalities (kalpa-style discipline) rather than abstract philosophy.